08 June 2008

Holodeck 1.0

The holodeck is still science fiction, but last year researchers took the first, confident steps towards its realisation with the Coherent project. This EU-funded research project, developed a commercial, true 3D display that could one day be called Holodeck version 1.0. It is called HoloVizio. The HoloVizio is a 3D screen that will allow designers to visualise true 3D models of cars, engines or components. Better yet, gesture recognition means that observers can manipulate the models by waving their hands in front of the screen. The function offers enormous scope for collaboration across the globe. Two applications drove the design of the basic networked audiovisual components – a collaborative visualisation system for the medical sector and a collaborative design review system for the automotive industry.

The researchers based the display component on innovative holographic techniques that can present, at natural human interaction scale, realistic animated 3-D images simultaneously to an unlimited number of freely moving viewers. The upshot is that users do not need goggles, and the 3-D image is maintained as they move about – both in contrast with early attempts at holographic displays. But the real star of the Coherent project is not simply the display. The researchers made exciting advances in enabling applications that show the system's real potential. The COMEDIA application, for example, uses raw data from medical imaging devices to create 3-D models of anatomy. The development demonstrated the system to 50 clinicians in Italy.

More information:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080604195058.htm